Agassi Ousted In Melbourne

January 25, 1999 / 12:19 AM EST / AP

A strangely sluggish Andre Agassi succumbed to a younger and more inspired version of himself, two-fisted Vince Spadea, as the Australian Open men's draw lost its last marquee player.

Agassi, seeded No. 5, rarely looked so indifferent on the court in a Grand Slam tournament, and the 24-year-old, 44th-ranked Spadea never played better than in Monday's 6-1, 7-5, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 upset to reach his first major quarterfinal.

"When I get tentative or discouraged with myself, a lot of things start breaking down," said Agassi, who had seen a golden opportunity to win a major title again in this tournament. "I just didn't like the way I was hitting the ball. I just didn't feel right. "

"I got a little tired in the fourth set. I spent a lot of energy being frustrated with myself, and then I couldn't step it up."

Agassi's ouster left No. 7 Karol Kucera of Slovakia as the highest men's seed remaining in the tournament. Former French Open champion, No. 10 Yevgeny Kafelnikov, is the only man left who has a major title to his credit.

Spadea, who beat Agassi the last time they played in Cincinnati last year, looked like a mirror-image of his American compatriot. They both have two-fisted backhands, play mostly from the baseline, and take the ball early, trying to move opponents around.

"It's my biggest accomplishment to date," said Spadea, whose previous best showing in a major came in the 1995 U.S. Open when he reached the fourth round. "He's used to dictating the play and running people around. My shots were landing deep and near the line, and he was a little surprised."

On this day, Spadea had the edge in every department, and Agassi seemed out of sorts all the way.

There was the shot in the first set when Agassi didn't move a step as Spadea broke for a 5-1 lead after he popped back a mis-hit service return just over the net.

There was another shot in the third set when Agassi struck a weak, listless forehand approach well wide to lose serve and give back a break.

And in the fourth set, Agassi served as if he didn't care anymore, or knew it wouldn't matter, as he faced six break points in the first two service games, and was broken to 4-2 after he ran in late on a weak return.

"It wasn't good today," Agassi said. "I was trying to work myself into the match, but I felt way out of my rhythm. I felt like I was constantly trying to make something happen, but it just wasn't meant to be today."

Steffi Graf and Monica Seles are looking a lot more like the champions of old than old champions.

But unlike years past, when they routinely faced each other in Grand Slam finals, the two four-time Australian Open winners set up a quarterfinal confrontation when they breezed to victories.

Healthy for the moment and sprinting effortlessly again as she seeks her 22nd Grand Slam title, Graf raced through a 6-1, 6-1 rout of ustria's Barbara Schett.

Not to be outdone, Seles followed with a 6-0, 6-3 romp over Sandrine Testud of France.

Each match lasted exactly 47 minutes.

Two-time defending champion Martina Hingis also reached the quarters, beating Amanda Coetzer 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1.

Graf holds a 9-4 advantage against Seles, though the last three came in the years after Seles made her comeback from the stabbing in Germany.

Of those 13 matches, six were played in Grand Slam finals. Graf beat Seles in the U.S. Open finals in 1995 and 1996, and Seles won when they met in the Australian Open final in 1993.

"I'm looking forward to playing her," said Seles, who has nine Grand Slam titles and is 32-0 in Australia Open matches. "Steffi is playing some great tennis, and I haven't beaten her in a long time. It's going to be a very difficult match, as always. It's going to be a great challenge. "

"Her level of play is not reflected in her rankings ... and neither is mine."

The No. 6 Seles is playing some great tennis, too, yielding just five points to the No. 14 Testud in the 17-minute first set.

The show of force by Graf was similarly as one-sided a thrashing as she ever delivered. Though seeded a lowly No. 10 as she works her way back from two years of injuries and illnesses that put her on the brink of retirement, Fraulein Forehand is as likely a candidate to win the Australian Open as anyone.

"I raised my game," Graf said. "I didn't play my best the last two matches. I knew I had to play better and I did. "

"I'm still as hungry as five years ago or 10 years ago. The joy and freshness for the sport are still very much there."